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  8011 Douglas Ave, Dallas  ·   (214) 363-5471  ·   Contact Us  ·        

Saint Michael and All Angels
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DAY EIGHT

We spent our last full day in Jerusalem walking through the streets of the Old City. The goal today is to walk in Jesus’s footsteps, to see where he performed miracles, where he was put on trial, and where he died and was buried.

Our day began in the Old City of Jerusalem at the Pool of Bethesda. In the first century, this pool was one of the larger cisterns serving the city. The people believed the pool had a special power: It was believed to be a pool that was stirred by angels once a day, and if you were the first person to touch the water after the angels stirred it, you would be healed. Those with illnesses and infirmities would wait around the water for the chance to be healed.

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. (John 5:2-9)

Near the pool is the Church of St. Anne, built to honor Mary’s mother. The church is small and beautiful in a simple way, but it’s also unique. It’s one of only two churches in Israel not damaged or changed by the Islamic empires that ruled the area for centuries. It has remarkably good acoustics and was used a school for years. Today, one of the highlights of a trip to Israel is singing in the middle of the church to hear the vocal resonance. And sing we did!

We walked just a bit down the street to the Church of the Flagellation where Jesus was put on trial before Pontius Pilate. The area once held the palace where Roman Governors lived while in Jerusalem, but today is the site of a church and beautiful courtyard. In that courtyard, we began the Via Dolorosa, the “Way of Sorrows.” The path of the Via Dolorosa traces the way Jesus walked through the city on his way to Golgotha. We prayed the Stations of the Cross as we went, and it was moving to hear the words of each station prayed by our pilgrims, especially our young people. In addition, all the pilgrims helped carry a sodden cross through the crowded streets on our way.

When I first walked the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, one of the most powerful observant for me was just how busy the streets are all the time. In my mind, Jesus’s trial and watching him carry the wooden cross through the streets would have been the most important thing happening that day. However, I quickly learned that Jerusalem is always busy and people are moving constantly. Rather than being the focus of the day, I now began to imagine that Jesus was an annoyance to those trying to make their way through the streets. What a humbling experience.

We ended the stations on the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a large church built over the historic sites of Jesus’s crucifixion and burial. Today, the Chapel of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of Christ are powerful. Not only are they unexpectedly beautiful, but the overwhelming sense of the sacred permeates the walls themselves. Watching our pilgrims touch the stone upon which Jesus was crucified and seeing them walk into the tomb was incredibly moving. Spending time in prayer where Jesus’s earthly ministry found fulfillment was a wonderful way to officially end our trip.

Following a good lunch, we made our way to the Garden of Gethsemane. The garden is on the west side of the Mt. of Olives, facing the Old City. Gethsemane literally means “olive press,” so it’s no wonder that the hillside is full of beautiful olive trees. Although some are new, there are many trees that have been dated at more than 1,000 years old. These exact trees may not have see Jesus praying in the garden, but they grew from trees that surely did. On the place of Jesus’s prayer before his arrest sits the gorgeous Church of All Nations. Built with the major gifts of twelve nations (including the US), this church represents the unity we find in Christ, no matter where we come from or who we are.

Our last stop of the day is one of my personal favorites: the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu, meaning “cock crows.” This church is built on the historic site of Caiaphus’s house. Caiaphus was the High Priest who had Jesus arrested in the garden and held as a captive until his Roman trial. The church is built upon the excavated caves that were used by Caiaphus and his household. Most notably is the cistern into which tradition holds that Jesus was lowered and held overnight. The horror of this space is apparent: it’s a deep stone cavern with no windows or door, just a hole in the ceiling. Jesus would have been strung up by his shoulders and lowered into the pit and left hanging the time of his trial before Pilate. Today, we are able to descend modern steps into the pit and say prayers together.

The church above is covered in the most exquisite mosaics depicting the plight of Peter. After Jesus’s arrest, he was taken to Caiaphus’s house and Peter followed at a distance. Afraid for his own life, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus had predicted, and when the cock crowed, Peter ran away weeping bitterly.

They seized Jesus and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:54-62)

Today, this church stands for the redemption possible for everyone. Peter, the disciple who knew Jesus personally, who loved him, and upon whom Jesus built the church, denied even knowing him. And yet, even that intimate, fearful denial can be redeemed through Christ’s love. A most appropriate way to end our last official day.

Tomorrow, we have an “extra” day for those pilgrims who were able to stay, so come back for the last post!

Holy Land 2022: Day Eight


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Tags: Pilgrimage: Family Holy Land 2022 / Blog & Newsroom

Day Nine

Day Eight

Day Seven

Day Six

Day Five

Day Four

Day Three

Day Two

Day One

Family Holy Land 2022

Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
8011 Douglas Ave
Dallas, TX 75225
(214) 363-5471

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Sunday Services:

7:30 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I)
9 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
9 a.m. Joy: A Children’s Service
11 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I)
11 a.m. Contemporary Rite II Service in the Parish Hall
5:30 p.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
8 p.m. Compline

In-Person Worship Information

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Saint Michael also offers weekday services every Tuesday-Thursday.

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Saint Michael Episcopal School
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Saint Michael Book Shop
Saint Michael's Farmers Market
Jubilee Park Community Center
The Saint Michael Foundation

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Saint Michael and All Angels is a member parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. We practice The Way of Love as members of The Episcopal Church.

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Service Times

IN-PERSONLIVE STREAMS

We are currently offering worship in-person. Several of our Sunday services are also streamed live.

Sunday Services:
7:30 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I)
9 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
9 a.m. Joy: A Children's Service
11 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I)
11 a.m. Contemporary Service (Rite II)
5:30 p.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
8 p.m. Compline
Weekday Services:
Tuesdays, 7 a.m. Morning Prayer
Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. Eucharist Service
Thursdays, 7 a.m. Morning Prayer

More about services at Saint Michael and All Angels here.

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Saint Michael and All Angels
8011 Douglas Ave
Dallas, TX 75225

Contact Us
(214) 363-5471

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Welcome Children Service Times Getting Here & Campus Map Membership

Welcome! | Saint Michael and All Angels is a community of passionate people seeking to follow Jesus in a meaningful way that impacts both our own lives and that of the community around us. We are blessed with our parish home and so glad to share it with you. If you find yourself in Dallas, we would love to have you join us for worship!

- The Reverend Dr. Chris Girata, Rector

Welcome to Children and Family Ministry!

Our team in Children and Family Ministry provides children, ages 0 – 5th grade, and their parents with the tools they need to become faithful disciples of Christ. We achieve this through fun and interactive programming that allows children and families to explore their faith together.

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Sunday Services:
7:30 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I) in Saint Michael Chapel
9 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite II) in the Church
9 a.m. Joy: A Children’s Service in Saint Michael Chapel
11 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I) in the Church
11 a.m. Contemporary Rite II Service in the Parish Hall
5:30 p.m. Traditional Service (Rite II) in Saint Michael Chapel
8 p.m. Compline in the Church

Helpful Links

Service descriptions and more info
In-person worship information
Watch services live and on-demand

We are located just south of Northwest Highway off of Douglas Ave. at Colgate Ave. Via Northbound Tollroad: Exit Lovers Ln, continue straight on Lomo Alto a few blocks to Colgate. Church is on your right. Via Southbound Tollroad: Exit Northwest Hwy, turn left to Douglas Ave. Turn R on Douglas and church is a few blocks down on your right. Via US 75: Exit Northwest Hwy and go west to Douglas Ave. Turn R on Douglas and church is a few blocks down on your right.

Maps & Directions

If you are new to Saint Michael, curious about the path to membership, or simply want to learn more about life at our parish community, we invite you to join us for two different class events we have throughout the year: "Saint Michael 101" is an introduction to life here at SMAA, and "Episcopal Christians", where we explore what it means to walk as a Christian in the Episcopal tradition, discussing topics like our Anglican heritage, worship, the Bible and formation etc.

Saint Michael 101 Episcopal Christians
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Flowers in our holy worship spaces are a beautiful gift to God and those who attend services at Saint Michael as well as those being honored or remembered. A contribution to the Flower Fund is a meaningful way to honor or remember a loved one for special life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, confirmations, thanksgivings, or in memory of a loved one.

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